Concealable beds

ABSTRACT

Structure for supporting a bed for movement between a position of non-use adjacent a ceiling of a room and a position of use adjacent a floor of a room. The structure includes hollow vertical columns extending between and fixed to the floor and ceiling of the room with the columns having outer walls directed away from each other and formed with elongated slots. Within the columns adjacent the slots are guides which communicate with the slots, and a pair of horizontal frame members which are adapted to carry a spring extend horizontally across the outer walls of the columns and carry guide members which extend through the slots into the guides within the columns to be guided thereby for vertical movement. A counterweight is freely movable vertically in one of the columns in the space therein which is not occupied by the guide, and a pair of cables extend from the counterweight upwardly around pulleys at the top of the columns to the opposed frame members which extend across the outer walls of the columns to be connected thereto, so that this one counterweight in one of the columns is connected through the cables to both of the frame members for counterbalancing the weight of the vertically movable bed. In the same way it is possible to connect a second counterweight in the other column through suitable cables over pulleys at the top of the columns to horizontal frame members of a second bed, these latter frame members being guided by the same columns and carrying a second spring which may be situated above or below the first spring.

Ilnite tates atet Gonzalez [451 May so, 1972 I 5 (IQNCEALABLE BEDS [72]Inventor: Vincente lErno Gonzalez, Calle Balmes 351, Barcelona, Spain[22] Filed: Sept. 29, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 870,324

Primary Examiner-James C. Mitchell AttorneyBlum, Moscovitz, Friedman,Blum & Kaplan [5 7] ABSTRACT Structure for supporting a bed for movementbetween a position of non-use adjacent a ceiling of a room and aposition of use adjacent a floor of a room. The structure includeshollow vertical columns extending between and fixed to the floor andceiling of the room with the columns having outer walls directed awayfrom each other and formed with elongated slots. Within the columnsadjacent the slots are guides which communicate with the slots, and apair of horizontal frame members which are adapted to carry a springextend horizontally across the outer walls of the columns and carryguide members which extend through the slots into the guides within thecolumns to be guided thereby for vertical movement. A counterweight isfreely movable vertically in one of the columns in the space thereinwhich is not occupied by the guide, and a pair of cables extend from thecounterweight upwardly around pulleys at the top of the columns to theopposed frame members which extend across the outer walls of the columnsto be connected thereto, so that this one counterweight in one of thecolumns is connected through the cables to both of the frame members forcounterbalancing the weight of the vertically movable bed. In the sameway it is possible to connect a second counterweight in the other columnthrough suitable cables over pulleys at the top of the columns tohorizontal frame members of a second bed, these latter frame membersbeing guided by the same columns and carrying a second spring which maybe situated above or below the first spring.

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CONCEALABLE BEDS The present inventionrelates to the structure of beds coricealable by an vertical movement.

A great variety of beds are known and manufactured which are convertibleinto seats or simply hidden in furniture of various types which respondto the general idea in taking advantage of the space as is necessary inmodern dwellings of little area.

Nevertheless, all these solutions, despite the fact that they obtain animportant reduction in the area occupied by the bed during the night, onbeing converted into objects of a smaller size during the day do notsufficiently solve the problem of space. They rely only on twodimensions, length and width, that is to say, only to the area of theinhabitable floor, and, moreover, they incur many problems such as tothe difficulty of maneuver, cleaning, decorative aesthetics, etc.

The object of the invention is to take into account the habitable spacein its third dimension, that is, height, which forms together with theceiling a space not utilized and therefore more suitable than any otherfor the concealing of beds which in this way leave the habitable surfacecompletely free during the day. I

To this principle, responds the system which will be detailedhereinafter and which offers not only the advantages derived from theafore-mentioned taking advantage of space, but also an improvedmechanism with its triple possibility of use: total space free, use as asofa or as a double bed, by letting down first bed or letting down twobeds. The essential nature of the series of advantages derived areenumerated hereinafter.

They are the only convertible or concealed beds which do not lose theirhorizontality at any time, which permits the beds to be made or unmadeconveniently, especially when their faculty of ascending and descendingcan situate them at the adequate level for the person managing them.

It is the only mechanism which permits an immediate use, since the bedscan remain hidden even with the sheets drawn back and the pyjamas laidout.

It is the only convertible system which does not make cleaningdifficult, since it does not have corners or undersides which cannot bereached by the broom or cluster.

It is the bearer of a true record for taking advantage of space onallowing up to eight beds to descend in a room of an average type whichtherefore does not lose its usefulness during the day.

It is the only system which is not based on a piece of furniture, sinceit is a structure prepared so that it can be adapted to any dwelling andits style, being coated with the decoration desired, which also offersthe unique advantage of not imposing a determined taste or style.

With the object of facilitating the detailed description of the elementsmaking up this improved structure a drawing is attached on which, by wayof an example, a practical realization is drawn, including the variousbasic elements of the mechanism.

FIG. 1 represents the device seen in a sectional elevation.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view observed from an upper plane orceiling line.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view in plan of one of the two columns which act asguide and support the beds, also of the counterweights.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of the shafts and pulleys.

FIG. 5 is a schematized perspective and with sectioning of one ofthecolumns.

In general, two column guides 6 and 7 fixed at their ends to the floorand ceiling of a room, support from the same side two beds 8 and 9parallel to each other and superposed.

The two column guides have a rectangular section see column (6 in FIG.5) to adapt one face to the internal longitudinal side of a bed, thespring bottom frame of which has longitudinal beams 10 and 10a prolongeduntil covering the smaller face of the column. The longitudinal beam 10carries the bearings 10c whose function is that of being inserted intothe guide to ascend and descend and move the runners 11 and 11a, in theguide 12, in the interior of each column.

As each column is formed with a longitudinal slot 13, and the open slot14 of guide 12 coincides with it, the column and guide are soldered toeach other along the length of the wall 60 of the column.

The described guide 12 occupies within the column the distance whichgoes from the upper pulleys 15 to the point at which it is linked withthe extension body 16 to which it is fixed by means of the screws 17once the unit reaches from ceiling to floor.

The extension body terminates with the foot 18 for fixation on the floorand reinforcement of the base of the column 6.

In FIG. 3, the anchoring of the shafts l8 and 19 (FIG. 4) is presented,the first corresponding to the support of the pulleys l5 and 15a and thesecond to the smaller pulley 20. Guiding pulleys of the cables 21 and 22which in FIG. 1 show their route between the heads of the beds and theircorresponding counterweights.

The counterweights 23 and 24 can retain in their interior the necessaryweight to equal that of the beds and mattresses and they are connectedto cables 22 by coupling 25 shown in FIG. 5.

The counterweights find their guide in the interior of the columnsthemselves, in such a way that they remain concealed. There is one foreach bed and the disposition can be seen in FIG. 1 in which thecounterweight 23 corresponding to the bed 8 is shown attached by twocables, 26 which are separated divergently on the pulleys 15 and 20. Thepulley 15 directly delivers the cable to frame member 10 while thepulley 20 directs its cable to the opposite pulley of the other columnto be delivered to the other head or frame member 10a.

In a similar way, although inversely, the cables 27 are arranged to jointhe counterweight 24 to the bed 9.

The columns are completed by the presence of four poles embedded in theceiling 28 and which have, moreover, the mission of being the limit forthe counterweights on the upward journey when the beds descend to theirlowest position.

The described example should not be limitative, in such a way that anyvariation of detail or form and dimensions, many times necessary foradaptation to various uses, will not alter the essential nature of thispatent, which is summed up in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In an arrangement for supporting a bed for vertical movement, whileremaining horizontal, between a position of nonuse adjacent a ceiling ofa room and a position of use adjacent a floor of a room, a pair ofparallel vertical columns extending between and fixed to the floor andceiling of the room, said columns being hollow and having outer wallsdirected away from each other and formed with longitudinal slots, a pairof elongated guides situated within said columns and also being formedwith longitudinal slots, the latter slots being aligned with the slotsof said columns, and said guides occupying only a part of the interiorsof said columns, respectively, a pair of horizontal frame memberscarrying a spring and extending horizontally across said outer walls ofsaid columns, said frame members respectively carrying guide memberswhich extend through said slots into said guides to be guided by thelatter for vertical movement, a counterweight situated in one of saidcolumns in the space therein which is not occupied by the guide therein,pulleys situated at the tops of said columns, and a pair of cablesextending from said counterweight around said pulleys respectively tosaid frame members to which said cables are connected so that the onecounter-weight is connected through said cables to both of said framemembers for counterbalancing the weight of the latter and the springcarried thereby.

2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a second pair of frame membersextend horizontally across said outer walls of said columns and aresituated respectively beneath the firstnamed frame members, a secondcounterweight in the other of said columns, occupying space thereinwhich is not occupied by the guide therein, additional pulleys at thetops of said columns, and a second pair of cables connected to thesecond counterweight and extending around the additional pulleys to thesecond pair of frame members to which the second pair of cables areconnected, so that a second spring carried by the second pair of framemembers and the latter are counterbalanced by the second counterweightwhich is situated in the other of said columns.

3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein there are three pulleys at thetop of each column, one for guiding a cable from a counterweight to anadjoining frame member, the second for guiding a cable from the othercolumn to an adjoining frame member, and a third for directing a cablefrom one to the other of the columns.

4. The combination of claim 3 and wherein the three pulleys at the topof each column are arranged with two of said pulleys adjacent the outerwall of each column and the third pulley adjacent the inner wall of eachcolumn, all of said pulleys being rotatable about axes parallel to saidframe members.

5. The combination of claim 4 and wherein the third pulley at the top ofeach column is smaller than the other two pulleys.

1. In an arrangement for supporting a bed for vertical movement, whileremaining horizontal, between a position of non-use adjacent a ceilingof a room and a position of use adjacent a floor of a room, a pair ofparallel vertical columns extending between and fixed to the floor andceiling of the room, said columns being hollow and having outer wallsdirected away from each other and formed with longitudinal slots, a pairof elongated guides situated within said columns and also being formedwith longitudinal slots, the latter slots being aligned with the slotsof said columns, and said guides occupying only a part of the interiorsof said columns, respectively, a pair of horizontal frame memberscarrying a spring and extending horizontally across said outer walls ofsaid columns, said frame members respectively carrying guide memberswhich extend through said slots into said guides to be guided by thelatter for vertical movement, a counterweight situated in one of saidcolumns in the space therein which is not occupied by the guide therein,pulleys situated at the tops of said columns, and a pair of cablesextending from said counterweight around said pulleys respectively tosaid frame members to which said cables are connected so that the onecounter-weight is connected through said cables to both of said framemembers for counterbalancing the weight of the latter and the springcarried thereby.
 2. The combination of claim 1 and wherein a second pairof frame members extend horizontally across said outer walls of saidcolumns and are situated respectively beneath the first-named framemembers, a second counterweight in the other of said columns, occupyingspace therein which is not occupied by the guide therein, additionalpulleys at the tops of said columns, and a second pair of cablesconnected to the second counterweight and extending around theadditional pulleys to the second pair of frame members to which thesecond pair of cables are connected, so that a second spring carried bythe second pair of frame members and the latter are counter-balanced bythe second counterweight which is situated in the other of said columns.3. The combination of claim 2 and wherein there are three pulleys at thetop of each column, one for guiding a cable from a counterweight to anadjoining frame member, the second for guiding a cable from the othercolumn to an adjoining frame member, and a third for directing a cablefrom one to the other of the columns.
 4. The combination of claim 3 andwherein the three pulleys at the top of each column are arranged withtwo of said pulleys adjacent the outer wall of each column and the thirdpulley adjacent the inner wall of each column, all of said pulleys beingrotatable about axes parallel to said frame members.
 5. The combinationof claim 4 and wherein the third pulley at the top of each column issmaller than the other two pulleys.